A financial planner or financial consultant is a qualified financial adviser having a Master of Business Administration degree. Practicing in full-service personal finance, they advise clients on individual investments, retirement, insurance, taxes, estate planning. They can be self-employed or work for a firm. Their services can be utilized to help individuals plan for retirement, establish a long-term savings strategy, acquire insurance policies, manage estate assets and help with investments for wealth building.

A number of financial planners work with non-profit agencies that help individuals set up wealth management plans. These include financial planners who work with governmental groups such as churches, labor unions, colleges and universities. Some help people build homes and communities. Others create pension plans for senior citizens. There are also those who provide assistance for those who want to buy real estate. All these services help you achieve your long-term goals by helping you learn how to save money, plan your finances and implement wealth-building strategies.

There are certain characteristics that one should look for in a financial planner. A good planner will have the knowledge and expertise on financial planning. He should have fiduciary responsibility, which means that he must take the interest of his clients into consideration when offering financial advice and selecting a financial product. This also means that he will not necessarily choose the client’s best interests. In addition, he should be insured against fraud and deception, both as a business entity and as an individual.